The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-05-14
SECRETARY STANTON.


darkness had swiftly and silently withdrawn
his force from the battle field of Cross Keys
and joined Jackson. The dawn Of tho 9th
found the Confederate army united and ready
for battle opposite Port Republic
jackson thought quickly and acted almost
Us rapidly He determined to hurry across
the river, burn the bridge behind him, so
Fremont could not cross, then attack Shields
and have it out with him. This was similar
to Jackson's tactics throughout the cam.
paign.
The plan was executed as designed.
Col. Tyler led Shields advance. He had
only 5000 men, however, to throw against
Jackson's whole army. The "Stonewall brig.
ade" met them first, flying beneath the Con.
federate the blue flag Of Virginia. The brig
ago was commanded by Gen. Winder, and
jackson himself was with it.
They opened lively fire, but Col. Tylers
heavy artillery was too much for even the
Stonewall brigade. Winder was forced back.
Col Tylers men speedily occupied the ground
it had left The Federal left held wooded
height and from that point deadly artillery
fire poured. jackson ordered the Louisiana
troops under Gen. Taylor to take it, Taylor
pointed to the guns with his sword and called
batteryf With shout and a cheer they
charged over the rough ground and up
through the woods 1t was desperate and
bloody charge, and it was successful. The
Federal guns were captured and turned upon
those who had lately manned them Taylor
was in turn forced back with his Confeder-
ates But Winder had rallied his men again.
He poured tremendous artillery fire into
thn ENala nd l.ff
Union troops began to waver. The waverng
became retreat. The artillery horses had
been killed and all Tyle,'s guns but one had
to he left on the field.
The batte of Port Republic was ended, and
Shields had been defeated.
Just rs the Federal retreat began Fremont
appeared with his army ON the opposite bank
of the river But 1t was too late. The bridge
had been destroyed.
After the battle Of Port Republic, June Q,
Jackson escaped up the valley. He dis
patched to Lee that day:
Through Gods blessing the enemy was this day
routed with the loss of six pieces of his artillery
T. j JACKSON,
Major General Commanding
BY June Is he was OH his way TO join Lee
at Richmond.
L
fingered in the valley a while. The four
principal battles of the Shenandoah valley
campaign were Winchester otherwise kernS-
town., Mcdowell, Cross Keys aud Port Re-
public.
The campaign of the Shenandoah valley OF
1862 began March II with Jackson's move
nent from Winchester to Staupton. 1t end
ed June with the battle of Port Republic.
IL hal alx-.,a tl,o T,,ip
before Richmond The breach which had al
ready been widening between Gen. Mcclellan
and Secretary of War Stanton was by this
campaign made irreparable When Mellow
ellis men were ordered to the Shenandoah,
after having been solemnly promised to Nc
Clellan, the latter gave over hope of ever
getting from Washington the re-enforcements
he needed, though he st II continued to ask
for them As to what the campaign directly
effected, Cooke. in his life Of Jackson says:
I'm three months Jackson had marched
600 miles, fought four pitched battles, seven
minor engagements and daily skirmishes; had
defeated four armies, captured 1000 prison
ers, seven pieces of artillery, 1000 stand Of
arms and very great amount of stores. in
flIcting on his adversary known loss Of ., 600
men. with loss on his own part compar-
atvely small"
How it was possible for him to thus make .
successful raid down the whole length Of the
Shenandoah valley and back again, with
armies on three sides of him, containing alto
gether more than three times as many men as
his own, is one of the mysteries of war that
las never been solved. IL was all n dash, .
sweep, q blow, and then up and away again:
Rein up your hot horses and call in your men,
The trumpet sounds Rally to colors again"
Some saddles are empty, some comrades are
slain,
And some noble horses lie stark on the plain
But wars . chance game. boys and weeping b
vain -.-.--